Movie Review: Kesari Veer – A Visually Grand Tale That Is Unable to Engage

Director: Prince Dhiman And Kanubhai Chauhan

Writer: Kanubhai Chauhan and Shitiz Srivastava

Cast: Suniel Shetty, Vivek Oberoi, Sooraj Pancholi, Akanksha Sharma, Aruna Irani, Kiran Kumar, Barkha Bisht, Himanshu Malhotra

Duration: 2h 41m

Rating: 2

 

Based in the 14th century and derived from a real-life story, Kesari Veer assuages expectations of a sweeping action-period drama with a foundation in religion, courage, and defiance. The movie begins on a touching note about the creation of the Somnath Temple, explained through the words of a mother to her son, Hamirji Gohil — laying strong foundations in spiritual resistance at an early stage.

 

Years go by, and Hamirji (Sooraj Pancholi) lives in a world torn apart by oppression. India has been invaded by the Tughlaq dynasty, and their regime is characterized by tyranny — from pillaging gold to defiling temples. But when the Tughlaqs eye Saurashtra and seek to desecrate the holy Somnath Temple, Hamirji and the highly religious Bhil community, led by Vegdaji (Suniel Shetty), stand up to save their land and faith.

 

The battle is joined when Jallaludin Zafar Khan (Vivek Oberoi), an unscrupulous and ambitious vizier who seeks to claim the Sultan's throne, promises to level the temple and annihilate all opposition. The setup for a grand struggle between good and evil — but alas, the movie never quite reaches its epic potential.

 

While Kesari Veer has its moments of visual glory — grand landscapes, elaborate sets, and eye-catching costume design — the narrative suffers from lack of bite. The script is stretched out, lethargic in patches, and repeatedly bogged down by exposition. Songs burst in unannounced and derail the rhythm, making the already long 2 hours and 41 minutes running time feel all the more burdensome.

 

Sooraj Pancholi makes a genuine effort as the noble Hamirji, and Suniel Shetty lends a reliable presence as the wise and earthy Vegdaji. He's menacing as the power-thirsty Zafar Khan in Vivek Oberoi, but the role doesn't provide him the depth or thrill we've witnessed in his previous standout performances. Debutante Akanksha Sharma as Rajal offers charm and promise but is wasted.

 

In the end, Kesari Veer is a case of so much potential going to waste. With its period setting and over-the-top stakes, the film had all the makings of being an engrossing saga of heroism and heritage. However, a dawdling screenplay, uneven tone, and absence of emotional resonance render it more tiresome than thrilling.

 

Kesari Veer attempts to fly on the wings of heroism and history but gets grounded by poor storytelling. It's a feast for the eyes lacking the emotional seasoning it needs to make it truly memorable.

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